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Steve Spurrier optimistic Florida can still turn things around in 2024

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax10/22/24BarkleyTruax
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Douglas DeFelice | Imagn Images

Florida silenced its critics with a convincing 48-20 win over Kentucky in Week 8, improving to 4-3 on the season having won three of its last four matchups.

The only matchup they lost over that span was a 23-17 heartbreaking road loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, who went and beat Alabama at home one week later. That’s why former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier is confident that the Gators are on the right trajectory behind true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway and a defense that continues to improve as the season progresses.

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“Our defense plays so much better [against Kentucky],” Spurrier said on Monday during Another Dooley Noted Podcast. “That nice little goal line stand was impressive. Kentucky went for it on fourth and half yard, didn’t make it. So I don’t know. Maybe we’ve got some different guys in there right now. Maybe they’re bonding a little bit. Maybe they want to play the best they can.

“I’ve seen teams — they can turn it around at some point, and we can do that. We’ve lost to two, really three good teams. So, hey, let’s let’s get behind our guys, which our fans were. Our fans were there screaming and yelling and see if we can’t finish this thing up with a winning season, and go win a bowl game. And away we go.”

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Many critics deemed the Gators as having one of the toughest schedules in the country this season, and to say they’d have a winning record to this point is a testament to the players who have risen to the occasion in recent weeks.

Of course, the hard part appears to have just begun. They’ll enjoy a week off after the Kentucky win, but no one is envious of what’s up next for Florida throughout November — road trips to No. 2 Georgia and No. 5 Texas before returning home to play No. 8 LSU and No. 18 Ole Miss.

They’ll finish the season at Florida State, and while the Seminoles are having a down season, Florida hasn’t beaten its in-state rivals since 2021. However, they haven’t beaten FSU in Tallahassee since 2018.